Archive of Business Bites Articles
March 13, 2008 at 10:26 pm · Filed under Bites of Kitsap, Bites of Washington, Business Bites, Silverdale WA Real Estate, Sparks from Sparky
Living in the Pacific Northwest, and being a stone’s throw across the Sound from Seattle, we are literally inundated with coffee shops & espresso stands on nearly every corner. From the major players like Starbuck’s, Tully’s, and Seattle’s Best, to the smaller venues like “Natte Latte,” we have a wealth of choices to get our caffeine quick fix.
In his book “The Purple Cow,” Marketing Guru Seth Godin states that Starbucks was ‘remarkable’ a few years ago. Now, he says, they’re boring.
Well, I wouldn’t necessarily call them ‘boring.’ Just recently, they intentionally closed all of their stores early so they could conduct training sessions for their employees. Supposedly it was to send a message to us consumers that Starbucks truly cares about improving their products/services. I watched a video clip on MSNBC where they were interviewing regular Starbucks customers outside one of the ‘closed’ stores. Boy, were they ever upset! Most of them simply headed down the street to the nearby Dunkin’ Donuts store! …..But I digress….
We have a new ‘player’ here in Kitsap County WA - The Global Bean. They occupy 1st floor space in the Cavalon Place II Office Building, part of the new Highland Business Park on Myhre Road in Silverdale.
As a long time Starbucks customer, I initally thought this venture was headed for a tough go. I mean, who can compete with Starbucks? During my first visit, it took entirely way too long to get just a simple tall brewed coffee with an add shot. I had become spoiled by the Howard Schultz java assembly-line.
As I was waiting, I met one of the partners, Joel Skellie. Great guy, very personable, down to earth. He said straight up,…
“We’re never going to be fast. We’re not going to compete against Starbucks, or any of the others. This is a place to slow down and connect. And we’ve got live local musicians three nights a week - from Celtic to Bluegrass, Jazz or Acoustic. Our vision is to be a place where our community ‘happens” and becomes more intimate.”
Wow! Stop the Press! ‘Slow down’ and ‘Connect?” Gee, what a concept!
So, I’ve been back. A lot. My wife and I go just about every week for coffee and a friendly game of Scrabble over Jazz. My blogging buddy, Buckwheat (aka Mark Flanders) and I meet there every Thursday morning at 8am with other area blog enthusiasts. We met some friends of ours there a couple of Sundays ago, and enjoyed wonderful conversation and great eats. As we were talking, we noticed that the place was empty except for us. We asked the barrista why there weren’t more customers, and he said that they had closed 2 hours ago! We were mortified! But they had been so busy cleaning up and had simply allowed us to continue our conversations!
The Global Bean is the vision and reality of partners Joel Skellie and Lance Gilbert. Joel has been a Kitsap County resident for over 19 years, served as a worship pastor for nearly as long, and is heavily involved in community music. Lance moved here in 1995 bringing a very successful software company along with him from Southern California. He is also involved in area music and theatre, enjoys graphic arts, music & video production, software design, and consulting.
Okay, so maybe when you’re in a hurry, you can do one of those ‘other’ drive-thru assembly line places. But as crazy and hectic as life is these days, it sure is a nice change of pace to ’slow down’ and ‘connect’ every once in a while!
The Global Bean… “Where Community and Coffee Connect!”
2021 NW Myhre Road, Suite 101 ~ Silverdale, WA ~ 360.892.9582
Hours: M-Th 7am-10pm ~ Fri 8am-Midnight ~ Sat 9am-Midnight ~ Sun 8am-7pm
February 28, 2008 at 10:29 am · Filed under Business Bites, Buyers, Mortgage Bites, Real Estate Bites, Sellers, Sparks from Sparky
Last month, Reuters announced that online listing aggregators Yahoo! Real Estate, Zillow, and Trulia had all agreed to adopt a standardized format for the distribution of real estate listings data. This allows the flow of critical information from real estate franchisors, brokers, and MLS agencies to move more quickly and efficiently to consumers.
In his 1993 prophetical “Lions over the Hill” speech, then NAR (National Association of Realtors) President, Bill Chee, predicted that one day the predatory ‘lions’ of technology would come along and prey upon the longstanding and rather complacent gatekeepers of residential market information, the Multiple Listing Services.
According to Wikipedia, “A Multiple Listing Service (MLS) (also Multiple Listing System or Multiple Listings Service) is a group of private databases which allows real estate brokers representing sellers under a listing contract to widely share information about properties with real estate brokers who may represent potential buyers or wish to cooperate with a seller’s broker in finding a buyer for the property. There is no single authoritative “MLS”, and no universal data format. The many local and private databases–some of which are controlled by single associations of realtors or groupings of associations (which represent all brokers within a given community or geographical area) or by real estate brokers–are collectively referred to as the MLS because of their reciprocal access agreements.”
Here in the US, there are over 800+ MLS systems that are owned, operated, and governed by varying private entities (real estate companies, county or regional Board of Realtors, or trade associations). In the past, each of these MLS systems set their own rules for membership, access, and sharing of information. All, however, are subject to nationwide rules laid down by NAR.
Dating back to the 1960’s, the original purpose of the MLS was to simplify the sharing of information from Sellers to Buyers. It was a system that worked back then, and everyone seemed to benefit. Licensed agents were naturally required to contribute a subscription fee to gain access to this listing information.
But times have changed, dramatically. With nearly 85% of consumers accessing the Internet to begin their home buying process, the drive and need for the free flowing access of listing information is forcing the MLS to relinquish their traditional strongholds and concede to growing consumer demands.
The ‘Lions’ are no longer ‘over the hill,’ but they’re in the camp and halfway through their meal!
New competitors such as Google Base, Craigslist, Oodle, and those listed above, are examples of newer alternatives to the MLS service. Recent traffic statistics clearly show that these sites have gained considerable traction and popularity among consumers and real estate professionals.
So with more and more listing data becoming available to the general public, is the MLS headed for the Endangered Species List? What will their proposition of value be to the hundreds of thousands of real estate professionals across the country who are required to contribute to their coffers?
In his speech back in 1993, Mr. Chee predicted that their organization would lose the MLS in just a few, short years. In fact, he gave them less than a 50% chance of stopping that inevitability from happening. He challenged his listeners to change with the times, to embrace emerging technology, and instead ’become’ the Lion!
And now, the vultures are circling the remains….
February 17, 2008 at 1:21 am · Filed under Business Bites, Poulsbo Real Estate, Sparks from Sparky
In the early morning hours of May 30th of 2006, a very popular local eatery in Poulsbo WA was left in charred ruins by fire. When Mitzel’s, a well known landmark, went up in smoke, area residents lost a dining tradition they had enjoyed for over 20 years.
Fast forward to the present, and the grand opening of ”Taprock Northwest Grill.”
Recently, I offered my son, Ben, and his friend, Josh, a lunchtime reprieve from their house-building efforts, and treated them both to a meal at the new Taprock Northwest Grill.
As is typical of most newly opened restaurants, the place was packed with plenty of local business people and assorted patrons patiently awaiting a seat.
The hired help was extremely friendly and gracious throughout our meal. On several occasions, the Manager, Steve Hancock, came up, personally greeted us, and inquired about our meal/service.
Yours Truly enjoyed a plate of Pan-Fried Totten Bay Oysters, while both Ben and Josh manhandled the Mountain High Tillamook Cheddar & Bacon Burger.
Trust me when I say that “Mountain High’ is an adequate description!
The food was very tasty, the service prompt and attentive, and the prices kind to my wallet.
The decor was classic Pacific Northwest, appointed with generous use of wood and stone, giving you the sense of an upscale hunting lodge or ski resort, but only next to a strip mall. It wasn’t too high-end though. Ben and Josh felt right at home in their work boots and bibs.
Overall, a very pleasant experience, and one that will no doubt more than adequately fill the shoes left behind by Mitzel’s.
Located at 760 NE Liberty Road, Poulsbo, WA 98370 * Phone: 360.697.2215
Hours of Operation
Sunday - Thursday: 11am - 10pm
Friday and Saturday: 11am - 11pm
December 30, 2007 at 12:28 pm · Filed under Bites of Washington, Business Bites, Sparks from Sparky
Well, according to the latest census study, Seattle has once again garnered the Top Spot as the Smartest City in the US.
Data collected shows that 52.7 percent of the residents of the Emerald City aged 25-and over hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Seattle is followed by the City by the Bay, San Francisco; then Raleigh, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; and Austin, Texas, rounding out the Top Five.
So, how does this affect us here on the Kitsap Peninsula? Can we simply claim intelligence by virtue of proximity? Are we able to absorb the Seattlite’s collective brain power through some cosmic process of osmosis?
Or maybe, instead of telling people that I’m from Silverdale WA, I’ll just say “Seattle” and they’ll automatically think I’m a Smarty Pants!
Oh, Thank You, Wizard of Oz!
December 3, 2007 at 10:14 am · Filed under Bainbridge Island Real Estate, Bites of Kitsap, Bites of Washington, Bremerton WA Real Estate, Business Bites, Gig Harbor Real Estate, Port Orchard Real Estate, Poulsbo Real Estate, Silverdale WA Real Estate, Sparks from Sparky
One of our family’s annual Holiday traditions is venturing out the weekend after Thanksgiving, and cutting down our Yuletide Christmas Tree.
In addition to the usual multitude of ‘pre-cut’ tree lots, there are a number of excellent ‘live’ tree farms located throughout Kitsap County WA.
Our first year here, we purchased a ‘pre-cut’ tree from Olmstead’s Christmas Trees here in Silverdale WA. They were close and convenient, just down the street from Clear Creek Elementary on Sunde Road.
For the proceeding couple of years, we went out to Kuney’s Christmas Trees, on Pioneer Road out in Seabeck WA. For a flat fee, you can select any tree on their property, regardless of size. Definitely a good bargain!
The last 3 years, we’ve cut out trees out at Hubert’s Noble Ridge Christmas Tree Farm, off Seabeck Hwy. in Bremerton WA. Although somewhat pricey, compared to other area lots, they have a wide selection of numerous evergreen varieties, including Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Noble Fir, Shasta Fir, Western White Pine, and Southwest Alpine. They also offer the ”Noble House,” a place to snuggle up to a cozy fire and enjoy a cup of hot cider.
Our local newspaper, the Kitsap Sun, published a fairly comprehensive list of Christmas Tree farms throughout the West Sound area. Go HERE to access the list.
Another great National resource directory for finding Christmas Tree Farms throughout the US is www.PickYourOwnChristmasTree.org
To all of our SoundBiteBlog readers, have a very Merry Christmas Holidays, and a most prosperous New Year!
October 18, 2007 at 1:01 pm · Filed under Bites of Kitsap, Bites of Washington, Business Bites, Sparks from Sparky
As many of our readers may know, there is a project currently underway to build a new marina out in Seabeck WA. As an avid recreational boater, this news is music to my ears! While there are numerous marinas on the eastern side of the Kitsap Peninsula, there aren’t any places to moor your boat or gas up on the Hood Canal side.
The new marina (renamed “Olympic View Marina”) is the venture of a Seattle-based marina development group comprised of 4 partners, including local Poulsbo resident, Erik Bentzen, a professional yacht surveyor and marine consultant.
Supposedly, all plans for the project have met with approval from all local, County, State and Federal agencies. The development calls for a new breakwater and 200-slip marina, restrooms, fuel dock, and a sewage pump-out station. Space accomodation is also being made available to current store owners, like Seabeck Pizza, Turie’s Seabeck Espresso, Seabeck Landing General Store, and Barbie’s Cafe.
Exceptional care and concern has been consistently demonstrated by the developers of Olympic View Marina with regards to the positive environmental impact of the reconstruction, including addressing issues concerning adequate parking and local traffic safety; view restrictions; and any potential impacts on aquatic/tidal habitats and fishery resources. It has been the intention of the developers from the very beginning to go ‘above and beyond’ the permitting requirements.
The new marina offers a significant improvement to the previous one which was condemned as ‘unsafe’ and closed down for over two years. The design of the new marina will have a ‘low impact’ environmentally, and will actually make stated improvements to water quality and fish habitat. Additional repairs will greatly improve the visual aesthetics along the Seabeck shoreline.
While only some initial clean-up work has taken place, look for the reconstruction efforts to go into full-swing in the Spring of 2008.
Real Estate in Seabeck WA has experienced a tremendous amount of growth over the past several years, making the area very popular, especially for Kitsap waterfront properties. Valuations for both vacant land and residential properties should continue to increase, especially with the marina reconstruction.
For many local boat owners like myself, the new Olympic View Marina it will definitely be “Worth the Wait!”
August 10, 2007 at 2:53 pm · Filed under Business
